Plywood has replaced three panels of metal grating on the west pier on Albany’s riverfront.
On Facebook, Albany police reported new vandalism at Monteith Riverpark last week. On a bike ride, I went by there on Sunday to take a look.
Video commentary coming up:
First I checked on the western of two viewpoints or piers on the Willamette River. Three panels of metal grating in the railing had been damaged or destroyed and removed. The holes were temporarily patched with sheets of plywood fastened with plastic ties.
Then I went to the eastern pier and recorded the video above. Two panels had been destroyed there. The first was kicked out in June. The second, larger one was damaged since.
According to the police department’s post on Facebook, other damage has been done at the new playground in Monteith Riverpark itself.
The piers and the park were reopened this past summer after being rebuilt as part of the Central Albany Revitalization Area’s $21.5 million Waterfront Project. The project continues with construction on Water Avenue, which won’t be finished until next year.
As for the vandalism of the new park facilities, the police post suggested: “If you see something, say something.” Sure, but not helpful. The trouble with vandals is that they commit their crimes when no one is looking, presumably at night.
People destroying public improvements are morons, yes, but they’re not so stupid that they do their dirty work in plain sight when others are around. (hh)
These panels, I learned the day after posting this, are made of “9 gauge galvanized welded steel mesh.” The parks department now plans to have the panels of mesh tack-welded so they are no longer loose in their frames. This may make them less tempting to vandals to kick out.
Anyone who’s surprised by this is just out of touch with reality.
I’m sure the city will just add another “fee” to maintain their Waterfront fiasco, or syphon money from some other area.
What kind of metal are the grates made of? Is it something that can be sold? Probably a homeless person wants the grating for a floor in their tent or something along those lines.
Just guessing of course. It seems the City built the railings on the cheap, even though they used 21.5 million so far on the waterfront, and you are the one who said in one of your blogs posts that they will spend 25 million before they are done.
Maybe those traffic cameras would be better suited to move to these areas instead… things that make you hmm?
Excellent idea
There’s a simpler and more feasible solution, and anyone can do it. If you don’t trust the gummint, just go down to Walmart with, plunk down $30.59 for a wildlife camera and when a vandal comes by, you’ll have a video you can take to the police.
Several years ago people were stealing the metal LBCC letters because they were metal and they could sell them. Burcham metals was contacted and the problem was solved. Could this be what is happening to the metal grates? Just a thought.
I visited the peers last week. The sheet metal railings left a lot to be desired. Not something I would be drawn to. Very disappointed.
Until and unless the judicial system in Albany (and Oregon) take a HARD stance on this type of criminal activity, it will not stop ! These lowlife scummers need to be put away for a serious amount of time if for no other reason but to send a message to the other lowlife criminals around here. Until we, the citizens, take this hard stance through maybe voting the lily liver politicians out of office we probably will not get any results.